DEFINITION
It is a simple detailed idea that can help make housing facilities affordable by all citizens of the State. It is possible for all citizens of Edo State to have affordable decent shelters if certain policies are formulated and enforced in the State. The Government of Edo State can enact policies that will help alleviate the anguish of the Citizens of the State by ensuring that the housing facilities are affordable and commensurate with the present minimum wage.
This can be done without any financial bail-out on the side of the Government. A simple as well as a single policy can help provide affordable housing facilities and at the end of the day alleviate poverty in the State. This proposal is to help the Government see what they can possibly do to help the situation of housing facilities in the State. A policy statement which is vigorously enforced by the same can go a long way in solving one of the biggest challenges of basic social amenities in any city.
If the people can be housed in comfortable as well as affordable houses they can work and develop the city. Among the three most biting basic social amenities, poor housing is the most devastating. If the people have affordable shelters they can manage with poor power supply and poor transportation system. What the people need first above all is good as well as affordable housing facilities. The question is if Edo State Government can provide this all-important basic amenity for her citizens. This proposal says she can.
With just a policy statement that the Government can be committed to enforcing we can make the needed difference. We can build estates and cheap housing schemes for the people but it will never be as effective as to what this police statement can do. It will cost the Government nothing save a policy statement and security operatives that will ensure that the policy is active.
THE IDEA
It is possible for even an applicant in the State to be able to afford a decent apartment in any part of the State. This is only possible if the Government will issue a working policy on housing in the State.
First, the Government should realize that majority of her prestigious citizens are monthly income earners not annual. And the question should be why must they pay annually for their housing when they earn monthly? Just a simple policy statement from the Government can make the difference. In developed countries, the word mortgage is a familiar word when talking about housing. In our nation, mortgage is far fetch because of the unanswered question of trust. However, while bypassing the unanswered question of trust the people as well as the loaners (landlords) can enjoy balanced profit, with this policy statement.
This is not a call requesting the Government to rob Peter to pay Paul. It is an idea that will put sanity in the housing system. It will help better the lives of the citizens and at the same time open a more accommodating business grounds for home-loaners (landlords). This idea will benefit all parties involve, while the Government helps to serve her people better.
Idea Details: A policy statement should be issued requesting all home-loaners (landlords) to only loan or rent their houses out for a duly monthly payment except otherwise requested by the client (prospective tenant). In other words, all landlords / ladies in the State should be mandated to only collect a monthly rent for each property they are subletting. On no account should they ask their client to pay a down payment of 12months or 24months. The people should be free to pay their rents on housing on monthly bases. They will not be compared to pay for a year or more, those who wish to pay for a year or more can do so willingly in their own convenience.
This will make housing facilities affordable by all as they will not be requested to pay hilarious amount for two or three years that they can’t even afford. Practically even the vast population of the under-employed can afford a meager some of N2000 or N3000 for a decent one-room apartment. Whereas, even a majority of the well-paid can’t afford the outrageous N2,000 multiplied by 24months (N48,000) plus some other awkward agent fees.
If I happened to be a civil servant I will not be able to afford a 1 – 3 years down payment for a decent apartment from my meager minimum wage. However, I can conveniently afford a monthly deduction from my monthly salary for a payment of my rent. This, when properly implemented can go a long way in alleviating the plight of the people as regards housing.
STRATEGIC APPLICATION
This idea can be strategically applied. It can be applied in such a way that it will be of great benefit to both parties involved and help the total development in the State. To help implement this idea properly and help enforce the desire of the State Government to eradicate the middle-man exploitive role played by the so-called agents, a scheme which I call Payment-Savings Scheme can be implemented. This is a strategy I hope will make our State have the feel of developed country. The banks, the local government, the landlord and the prospective tenants will be involved.
I proposed a simple house rent/payment scheme (Payment-Savings Scheme) to enable the full implementation of better housing for all in Edo State. It will edge out the exploitive agents. It will help the landlord to save better and not feel the effect of having to cope with monthly rent. It will help the banks grow another wing of investment. It will help the local governments put housing system in check and better shape.
To run this scheme, first, the local government should call for a free advert for landlords who want to tell the public about available houses. By so doing cutting out the agents and having to choose or decide who live in their apartment. When they come for the free adverts they will have to register. Forms should be prepared for both landlords and prospective tenants. Those in-charge at the local government level should alert the landlord when their properties are spotted.
Also, when the landlords register they should be given the option using the bank as their payment point or get the cash by hand. The prospective tenants should be given the same options. This is where the banks comes in, which is to open a zero-account for landlords where tenants can pay-in their monthly rent or be thrown out. The bank in turn will invest the money for the landlord for a certain period as agreed between the bank and the landlord.
ONLINE ADVANTAGE
A better option to running the scheme is to run it via a web page. It will help simplify the whole process. The landlord can register online and those letting can seek for houses online too and register for them.
This is just a light explanation. I will be glad to appear before any State Panel to further enumerate the workable of the scheme.
THE SOLUTION
The solution we seek with this proposal is to improve the poor housing facilities in the State. With a policy statement enforced by the State of a strictly one month down payment for house rent will be the solution we require. When the policy is enforced and properly adhere to, it will solve the problem of poor housing in the State, since almost everyone will be able to pay on monthly bases.
It will be an enduring solution for both those letting and those letting out. Those letting will find their solution in having to pay an affordable monthly payment. Those letting out will have the convenience of payment choice. And to make things easier for them, they can apply for the Payment-Savings Scheme I proposed above.
FLEXIBILITY/FEASIBILITY
Flexibility of this idea is well thought of and assured, so as to enable easier access to available properties for rent, affordable payment as well as government management of housing facilities. The people need better housing system, the landlords want better investment, and the government wants improvement in all sectors.
Finally, thanks for the opportunity you have given me to propose this solution to you. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial idea-proffering relationship with you for total development and betterment of our beloved State.
Yours Faithfully,
AUSTIN IMORU (234) 07038114922
mrgreatworld@yahoo.com
